Spring-scale.



No. 629,290. Patented July l8, I899. s. GDUDBAUDY.

SPRING SCALE.

(Application filed June 16, 1898.\ (No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet I fiu/enwr K526278166? 6'00 da/uogy,

No. 629,290. Patented July l8, I899.

S. GOODBAUDY.

SPRING SCALE.

(Application filed June 16, 1898. No Modem, 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fiawnfor, f Jam/ml @oodfiwud I w y 1 y y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EIGIITII 'ro .iosE'Pn E.

TINCIIER, OF DANVILL I, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,290, dated. July 18, 1899. Application filed June 16, 1898. Serial No. 683,608. (No model.)

To all 1071 0721 it plug concerns Be it known that I, SAMUEL GOODBAUDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Peoria, Indian Territory, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Scales, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to spring-scales, and has for its object to provide scales of the charto actor described by means of which the weight of aload placed on a wagon or car can be quickly ascertained by measuring the force or power necessary to overcome the inertia of the wagon or car to move the. same or by means of which articles in bulksuch as .baled cotton, for example, or articles of less weight, as household silpplies-inay be readily weighed and the weight automatically registered.

sists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts here inat'ter described, and particularly pointed out in the accompanying drawings, forming 2'5'a partof this specification, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved scales. Fig. 2 is asimilar view, partiallyin section,taken am right angle to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a part of a wagon, showing the scales applied thereto. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation showing the scales applied to a car, and Fig.

ranged-as hand-scales.

I will first describe the construction of my improved scales, and will then explain the manner in which articles or loads are weighed and automatically registered.

Referring to the drawings,'th'e numerall indicates a hollow cylinder, which is interiorly threaded at one end, and screwed into said threaded end is a head 2. In the other end of the cylinder 1 is fitted a head 3, provided with a circumferential flange 3, that! bears against the end of the cylinder. Formed in the head 2 at uniform distances apart is a.

plurality of threaded bolt-holes, into each of which is screwed one end of a tie-bolt 4, the

With these ends in view my invention con 7 is a detail view showing the invention arother end of which projects through the head 3 and has screwed thereon a nut 5. The tiebolts 4 operate to firmly tie or fasten together the heads 2 and 3 in the cylinder. Arranged about each of the tie-bolts 4 is a tubular guide 5 5 (3, one end of which bears against the head 2 and the otherend passes loosely through a perforation formed in the follower 7. The fol- 'lower '7 consists of a metallic disk suitably perforated for the passage of the tubular 6c. guides 6, and screwed centrally in said disk or follower is a rod'8, which passes through a central aperture in the head 2 and at its extremity is bent to form a hook 9. Disposed abofit each of the tubular guides G is a coiled spring 10, one end of which bears against the head 2 and the other end bears against the follower 7.

' A slot ll is formedlongitudinally in the cylinder 1, and arranged to slide in said slot 7 is an index consisting of a metallic block 12, arranged to span said slot and formed on its inner side with a rectangular flange or pro jection 13, constructed to fit snugly in the slot, but adapted to freely move longitudinally therein, whereby the index is caused to move in a true right line. ,A leaf-spring 1 4 is attached to the inner side of the projection 13 by a screw 15 and. bears at its opposite ends against the inner side of the cylinder 1 .80 on each side of the slot, said spring acting as a clamp to hold the index fixed at any point to which it may be moved. A fingerldis attached bya screw .17 to the under side of the follower 7 and projects beyond the periphery of the latter into the slot 11 above the index 12. Swiveled in the head 3 is a hook 18. The hook 18- may be convenientlytswiveled in the head by forming a countersunk aperture centrally in the head and upsetting or heading down the end 10 of the hook therein, as shown, said h'ook turning freely in the head 3, but is prevented from having any endwise movement therein by the headed end 19 and .a collar 20, formed on the hook on the outer 5 side of the head 3. I

As shown, the finger 16 is unattached to the index 12. Hence when a weight or tractional force is applied to the book 9 and the I springs are compressed by the followerthe too the team is stopped.

finger 16 will move the index-block to the graduation marked on the periphery of the cylinder to indicate the weight or power applied to the scales; but when the weight or power is disengaged from the scales and the springs expand and return the follower the index remains at the point to which it had previously been moved by the follower and is held against accidental displacement by the spring 1- thus automatically registering the weight. After the indication has been read the index maybe returned to zero by hand.

In small scales intended for domestic and the like instead of the hook i provide a handle 21, as shown in Fig. 7, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

lhe operation of my improved scales is as follows: I have ascertained by practical expcrimcnt that the force necessary to over come the inertia and move an ordinary wagon on a smooth and approximately level surface is equivalent to a lifting force of four pounds for ach one hundred pounds of the total weight of the wagon. For example, if the wagon has a total weight of two thousand pounds then the tractional force or power rv :o nr'ive the wagon on such a surhave oescribcd will be equivalent to a force or newer necessary to lift eighty pounds. it-"hen the scales are to be used as wagon-scales, therefore, I provide the cylinder on one side of the slot with a series of gradualions indicating the actual weight or power exerted on or sustained by the scales and a corresponding series of graduations on the opposite side of the slot indicating the weight multiplied by twenty-live, or the total actual weight of the wagon. Let it be assumed that the weight of a load about to be placed upon awagon is to beascertained. For this purpose I provide a portable platform or tram-rails that may be carried on the wagon to the point where the load is to be put upon the wagon. The platform is then placed upon the ground in an approxiunitely level posit-ion and theempty wagon driven thereon. An eyebolt 22 having been previously attached to the wagon-bolster the hook 18 is engaged therewith, and the doubletrec is engaged with-the hook 9. The team is now started up until the inertia of the 'agon is overcome and the wagon starts to move, when In moving the wagon the springs in the scales are compressed until they are capable of resisting the force necessary to move the wagon, or, in other words, until the index indicates a resistance corresponding to the weight of the wagon, which, as I have before explained, will be four pounds for each one hundred pounds of the total weight of the wagon. For example, if the wagon weighs two thousand pounds the scale will indicate on one of the series of graduations a pulling or tractional force equal to eighty pounds, while the corresponding graduation on the other side of the slot will indicate the corresponding weight of the wagon, or two thousand pounds. The load is then placed upon the wagon and the operation repeated, and the difference bet ween the weight of the wagon empty and loaded will be the total weight of the load.

It is important to note that after the wagons inertia has been overcome and the wagon is in actual motion the scales will not correctly indicate the exact force necessary to move the wagon from a state of rest, owing to the acquired momentum. Hence it isnecessary to read the indicated weight or force on the scale the precise moment the wagon starts to move. This, however, is impractical or difficult, ifnot actuallyim possible; butby means of my improved index, constructed as described, it will automatically remain fixed when the springs have been compressed and indicate the maximum weight or force exerted, which is the weight or force necessary to impart the initial movement to the wagon, so that no especial care or watehfulness is necessary to read the indicated weightat the precise time it is exerted, as it may be read at any time thercattenwhen most convenient.

The same principle of operation is involved in weighing a load placed upon a railway-car. I have found by experiment that the trae tional force or power necessary to overcome the inertia and move an ordinary railway-ear upon an approximatelylevel track is equivalent to a lifting force of six pounds for each one hundred pounds of the total weight of the car. Hence when the scales are designed for use as car-scales the graduations marked on one side of the slot 11 will be arranged to indicate the actual weight or power exerted on the scales as before, while the graduations on the opposite side of the slot will be multiplied by 16.60 to indicate in hundreds of pounds the corresponding weight of the car. To weigh the load, the hook 18 is engaged with the ear-coupling at one end of the empty car, and the engine is coupled to the hook 9 and started ahead until the car commences to move, when it is stopped, and the force or power necessary to move the car from a state of rest is then read as automatically indicated by the index 12. For example, if said index points to an indicated force or power of three thousand pounds on one side of the slot the corresponding graduation on the opposite side of the slot will indicate eighteen thousand pounds, which will be the actual weightof the car. If, now, thc load be placed upon the car and the operation rcpeatcd, it will only be necessary to subtract the ascertained weight of the car from the total weight indicated and the remainderwill be the actual weight of the load placed upon the car.

It will be manifest that the scales may, if so desired, form a partof the pern'lanent equipment of the ear, in'which case the scales will be fixed centrally to the under side of the ear and arranged in suchmanncr that thccnginc may be coupled thereto from either end of the car. The scales will also prove a most ready, convenient, and. accurate means for measuring the weight of merchandise and products on farms, plantations, warehouses, and the like, as it is only necessary to engage the hook 9 with the slings or grapples" commonl y employed for lifting such articles-as a bale of cotton, for exampleand connect the hook 18 with a hoisting or lifting device of any kind, when by simply lifting the bale very slightly-from the floor or its support the index will automatically register the Weight thereof, and the indicated weight may be read at leisure and with certainty after the bale has been lowered. Furthermore, by reducing the size of the scales and substituting a vr g-springs will measure" such weight orfforce handle 21- for the hook 18, as shown in Fig. 7, the invention will be especially adapted for domestic and similar uses, it merely being necessary to engage the hook 9 with the article to be weighed and liftit by the handle 21, and after the article has been lowered or released from the scales the weight may be read at ease and with accuracy, a difficult thing to do' with the ordinary scales, as the indi cated weightwith such scales has necessarily to be read while the scales and the article being weighed are held suspended.

The constructionof the scales for the different purposes described is the same, excepting that a handle'is substituted for the hook 18 when 1 6$9 1165.fi 'eld signed f weighing small articles or articles of comparativelylight weight. It will also be" evident that the size and strength-of the scales will be proportionate to the work they may be called upon to perform and /also that the-ratio-between thetwo series of graduations will bedependentnponthe. purpose for which-the scales may be. designed, as has-been before de scribed. Ineach instance, however,the 'in-- dex will automatically register the weight or with accuracy and certainty, as said springs are compressed-in atrue right line, being 'gn idedin their fiexure by the guide-tubes 6,

causing each convolutionof the springs to remainin perfect alinement with the convolutions above and below, whereby the springs are held out of contact-and prevented from interfering with oneanotherin their 'operation. i

The scalesconstructed as described'are simple and not easily put out of order and possess exceeding strength and durability.

Having described my invention, what. I

claim is i 1. In spring-scales, the combination with a cylindrical casing having heads fixed in its opposite ends, of a'followerarranged to freely move in said cylinder and having a plurality of perforations, a hooked rod freely passing through one of said heads and fixed at its inner end to said follower, a plurality of tnbular guides bearing at one end against said head and at their other ends loosely passing through the perforations in the follower, coiled springs disposed about said tubular guides between the said head and the follower, and

stantially as described.

2. In spring-scales, the combination with a cylindrical casing having heads fitted in the said heads together, tubular guides disposed about said tie-bolts, a perforated follower arranged to freely slidein the cylinder over'said tubular guides, coiled springs disposed about said tubular guides between the follower and one of the heads, a hooked rodfreely passing jectin at their opposite ends through the other cad, nuts screwed over said project-' tie-rods," a perforated follower arrangedto guides, coiled springs disposed about said tubular guides between the follower and one of the heads, a hooked rod freely passing through the said head and attached at its inner end the follower, substantially as described. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set VIN'r'oN' Cooinns,

EWELL AID'ICK.

freely slide in the cylinder over said'tubular my hand .in presence of two s'ubscr'ibing.wit-' nesses. i v

" I SAMUEL GOODBAUDY.

Witnesses;

a m ovable index actuated by the follower,sub-

opposite ends thereof, of tie-bolts connecting through the said head and attached at its inner end to the follower, and a movable inat oneend into one of said. heads and proin'gends, tubular guides disposed about said rto the follower, a' hooked rod swiveled in the other head, and a fioyable index actuated by 

